---
title: "Call to Scarborough Artists: 2026 Cultural Hotspot Art Commissions, Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park"
description: Art commissions for Scarborough-based artists for the 2026 Cultural Hotspot program in Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park, Toronto. $1,000 per design.
url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/8927c745-586c-442a-b120-5909b1119d3c
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: "2026-03-16"
updatedAt: "2026-09-30"
programType: Commission
organization: City of Toronto
organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/city-of-toronto
deadline: "2026-04-01"
location: Scarborough Town Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
isOnline: false
compensationRange: $1,000 per design for t-shirt/tote bag commissions; escalator/backdrop commission paid per CARFAC guidelines (artist provides quote). Fabrication, installation and printing costs covered separately by the City.
disciplines:
  - visual art
  - graphic art
  - illustration
careerStages:
  - Emerging artist
  - Established
  - Mid-career
---

# Call to Scarborough Artists: 2026 Cultural Hotspot Art Commissions, Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park

**Hosted by:** City of Toronto

**Type:** Commission | **Location:** Scarborough Town Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** April 1, 2026

## About This Program

> "Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood — landmarks, community leaders, representations of art, culture and community"

The City of Toronto invites visual artists based in Scarborough to submit their portfolios to be considered for three commissioned artworks. Each work will be featured during the 2026 Cultural Hotspot program in the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood.

There are two commission streams:

1. Escalator and Stage Backdrop Vinyl Artwork — The City of Toronto's Cultural Hotspot program seeks to commission a mid-career or established artist, graphic artist or illustrator to create an original artwork. Vinyl artwork will be displayed at Scarborough Town Centre on glass panels of two escalators and on stage in the front of the elevator for a public event in June. Final designs will be due in May 2026. Escalator pieces, each sized at 24″ x 322.5″, not including base and top of escalator. Stage backdrop is sized at 120″ x 92″. Imagery is to represent Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood, including but not limited to landmarks, community leaders, representations of art, culture and community. Submitting artists are asked to include a budget range/quote. The City endeavours to pay the artist according to CARFAC guidelines. Fabrication, installation and printing costs are covered separately by the City.

2. T-shirt and Tote Bag Artwork — The City of Toronto's Cultural Hotspot program seeks to commission two emerging artists, graphic artists, or illustrators, with less than five years of experience, to create a black-and-white original artwork, to be used to promote the 2026 Cultural Hotspot program. T-shirt design: 1 black and white design sized at 20″ x 20″. Tote bag design: 1 black and white design sized at 20″ x 20″. The commissioned artists will receive $1,000 (+HST if applicable) for T-shirt design and $1,000 (+HST if applicable) for Tote bag design. Printing costs are covered separately by the City. Artist fees include consultations, revisions, preparation of any documentation, attendance at meetings, artwork delivery and related materials.

Artists from equity-deserving communities (persons with disabilities, women, Indigenous, Black, persons of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, undocumented workers, immigrants and refugees, persons with low income, youth) and/or vulnerable populations are encouraged to submit.

The Cultural Hotspot is an annual arts program that celebrates Toronto's outside-the-core communities. In 2026, the Cultural Hotspot will highlight the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Career Stage:** Emerging artist, Established, Mid-career
- **Geographic Eligibility:** Local
- **Disciplines:** visual art, graphic art, illustration
- **Note:** Artists must be living in Scarborough. Artists who live in or demonstrate a connection to Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood will be given priority. For the escalator commission, artists with experience in producing work on vinyl will be given priority. For the t-shirt/tote bag commission, artists must have less than five years of experience. City of Toronto employees are not eligible. No AI generated artwork will be accepted.

### Additional Requirements

Email submission to culturalhotspot@toronto.ca with: a short paragraph describing connection to Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park or Scarborough and creative practice; artist website and/or social media links (if applicable); portfolio containing 5 to 10 past relevant original works (no AI generated artwork); estimated budget range/quote (for escalator commission only).

## Compensation & Benefits

$1,000 per design for t-shirt/tote bag commissions; escalator/backdrop commission paid per CARFAC guidelines (artist provides quote). Fabrication, installation and printing costs covered separately by the City.

**Includes:** Commission fee

T-shirt and tote bag commissions: $1,000 (+HST if applicable) per design. Artist fees include consultations, revisions, preparation of any documentation, attendance at meetings, artwork delivery and related materials. Escalator and stage backdrop commission: artist provides budget range/quote, City endeavours to pay according to CARFAC guidelines. Fabrication, installation and printing costs are covered separately by the City for all commissions.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** March 16, 2026
- **Deadline:** April 1, 2026

## Contact

**Email:** culturalhotspot@toronto.ca

**Phone:** 416-398-0603

## How to Apply